Light on Alton could not be brighter

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The Small Business Revolution has brought out the best of Alton: its people. At the SBR-related events, I saw people of all ages, of all cliques, and of all circles come out for one shared vision and one shared goal: to win.

We all cheered, we all shouted, we all raised our hands in the same room to show how much Alton means to us. Different personalities, different types of businesses, and different organizations came together and voted online to put Alton on the map. This is the Alton I have written about in the past and will continue to write about. This is the Alton I envisioned. This is the Alton I knew we could be.

Regardless of the six businesses that win, Alton wins. Regardless of which of the six gets the most money, Alton wins. The attention is on Alton. What if you and your best friend are competing for the same prize and your best friend wins? You wished you would have won, but you are happy for your friend because that is your friend. I hope that is how Altonians would feel and that they support whichever six businesses win.

Because of the SBR movement, Alton is in the national spotlight. Alton is on the radar for those who never gave Alton a thought. People who drove past Alton to reach other Riverbend destinations will now give us a second thought.

While the SBR people are in town, we have other opportunities to impress them and share with them all the highlights of Alton and its people. While the SBR people are interviewing, filming, and setting up, they will eat, drink, sleep, relax, and exercise in Alton. They will listen to local radio and read local newspapers to learn about all the good people and good things that go on here regularly.

Let us continue the momentum the SBR movement unleashed and be “one for all and all for Alton.”

Derrick D. Richardson

Alton

The real GOP and Trump economic record

Well, the time has come for this Deplorable GOP voter to respond with the facts. Following are statistics and other facts gleaned from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Commerce Department of Trump’s 2017 accomplishments:

The stock market is at an all-time high, and has over 60 record closes. The Dow is up 25 percent and has created over $5 trillion in wealth alone! On Feb. 25, the Labor Department said unemployment was at a 45-year low. President Trump has created 1.7 million new jobs. At the end of 2017, consumer confidence was at a 17-year high and African-American unemployment was at a 17-year low. Home prices are up 6 percent; Trump has eliminated 16 regulations on businesses for every new one created. Two quarters of 2017 GDP was over 3 percent.

President Obama was the only president never to reach a 3 percent GDP: not only for one quarter, he managed to not do it for eight years! Millions more Americans were on food stamps, 95 million Americans out of the labor force, resulting in the lowest labor participation rate since the ‘70s and the worst economy recovery since the ‘40s.

A recent New York Times headline said “with the Trump effect” businesses were anticipating less regulations and loosening their purse strings. Couple that with the recent $1.5 trillion tax plan (not one Democrat voted for) has already led to corporations returning to America with jobs and giving out bonuses to their employees. I’m just getting started, but I think you get the picture!

Garland Horn

Granite City

A candidate for all of Illinois

The time is now to get behind a candidate for governor who truly is for all of Illinois. Voters continually complain that it is politics as usual, that politicians are corrupt, that Chicago runs the state, that the state is in a mess, and the list goes on.

For the first time in 20 years, the voters in Illinois can nominate someone who is not from Chicago and who will be a voice for all of Illinois. Voters can nominate an individual who is well-respected, hard-working, honest, and fair-minded — someone who epitomizes the middle class, is civic-minded, does not participate in pay-to-play politics, and a person you can trust.

That individual is Bob Daiber.

I have known Bob for many years. Bob has always been a true friend to educators, farmers, and union workers. Now is the time to elect someone we can trust to right the wrongs of this state. He is a man of integrity and uses common sense solutions to solve complex problems. While you may not totally agree with him, be assured that he will work diligently to restore financial stability to this state. Bob is talking about putting the state back on solid financial footing while his opponents are promising free health care, free education, etc. I ask you: who is going to pay for all these grandiose programs?

To learn more about Bob, I urge you to visit his website — bobdaiber.com — or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Let’s nominate Bob Daiber on March 20, or in November our only choice will be a candidate from Chicago or a candidate from Chicago.

Jennifer Hobbs Zahn

Marine

Facts about the 1 percent sales tax

Are your property taxes too high?

Fact: The “lion’s share” goes to schools. Seventy one percent of my property tax goes to schools. The average school portion of property taxes is about 60 percent. (Source: Madison County Treasurer’s Office)

The educational establishment knows how much you pay and they’ve figured out you’re taxed to the eyeballs. The jig is up. So ... guess what you’ve got on the “spring off year” March 20 ballot?

1. A referendum to lower school district taxes

2. A referendum for additional money for schools

Yup, No. 2 is correct — go to the head of the class! The educational lobby thinks most voters in a fall election won’t approve tax increases. So they try to sneak a 1 percent sales tax through in “spring off year” when folks don’t go to the polls. It’s an election ploy that works.

Facts: (A) The 1 percent sales tax is irrevocable. (B) It will take $23 million out of our pockets annually and won’t lower your property tax. (C) They can raise the property tax at any time: have they ever lowered it? (D) The tax will allow them to build $300 million of schools. With interest, this totals a staggering $500 million. (E) If passed, the sales tax will be: Collinsville 9.1 percent, Granite City 9.35 percent, and Highland 8.85 percent — and all will exceed New York City’s sales tax.

Educational soothsayers predict the end of the world if you vote “no.”

Vote “no” anyway!

Philip W. Chapman

Highland

Fact check: 1 percent sales tax

The 1 percent sales tax is a painless way to raise money: false.

Painless is in the eye of the beholder.

Question: painless for whom? The educational lobby that gets to spend your money?

The 1 percent sales tax will hurt low-income citizens. Why? Low- and fixed-income people may not have transportation and travel to shop where sales taxes are lower. If the sales tax is approved, Granite City business district tax will be 10.35 percent, Collinsville 10.35 percent, and Highland 9.85 percent: higher than the New York City sales tax. That’s a chunk out of anyone’s pocket!

The 1 percent sales tax will also hurt small businesspeople who employ many people selling “big-ticket items.” Although cars and farm implements aren’t impacted, many other big-ticket items are. Why should someone buy a lumber package or a major construction machine in Madison County if it costs $1,000 more due to the sales tax in Madison County? Do you want to chop the legs out from under your neighbors?

The 1 percent sales tax isn’t painless. The state of Illinois just raised its tax 32 percent. The Productivity Index went up for farmers; school districts raised property taxes. Don’t vote in another painful tax.

Tired of the pain?

Administrators must “make do” from property taxes. Had enough of high taxes? Vote “no.”

Philip W. Chapman

Highland

Bad dream at the ballot box

It’s back! The 1 percent sales tax has been rejected twice by Madison County voters. But it’s back! It’s like a bad '80s horror movie franchise. “Sales Tax.” “Sales Tax Returns.” “Now Son of Sales Tax.” When will it end?

As a Collinsville resident, I am glad the Collinsville School District opposes it, but school districts representing more than 51 percent of students in Madison County decided to put it on the ballot ... again. If voters approve this tax increase, our sales tax rate in Collinsville, already at 9.1 percent, will go to 10.1 percent. Have we learned nothing in Illinois? Higher taxes won’t solve anything. Higher taxes will only encourage shoppers, businesses and families to leave our communities. Please vote “no” on the 1 percent sales tax ... again.